An Ayr veteran is hoping to raise £130,000 to help him pay for lifesaving cancer treatment.

Michael Lynaghan, who served abroad with the Parachute Regiment, was diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2021 at the age of 41.

He was told he had just weeks to live, but was put on a daily chemotherapy tablet called Abisaterone, which helped to manage the condition.

However, with its effectiveness set to end within the next year, Michael's family has now launched a fundraiser to pay for pioneering treatment which could give him a further five years to live.

The treatment, called Lutetium-1PSMA, is not available on the NHS and can only be accessed at two private practices in England.

Treatment at the Royal Marsden cancer care centre costs around £14,200 per dose, which does not include scans, deposits and consultations.

Wife Cara, who married Michael eight years ago, says it is the only hope of giving her husband more time to make memories with their daughters Murrin, 6, and Willow, 5.

She said: “We’ve raised over £14,000 in just three weeks, which is amazing. All fundraising is now going through Support Our Paras.

“Michael’s case is very rare for someone so young, but it’s all down to the environments that he served in.

“He was already undergoing palliative care when we heard about this drug, which unfortunately is not funded through the NHS.

“We need to try and get this treatment, even if it just gives Michael a few more years to make memories with his children.”

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Adding to the challenges facing the family is the fact that Cara underwent brain surgery in February, and has been unable to work since.

Cara has described the costs involved as “overwhelming”, but is determined to make it happen.

She said: “Michael will need six treatments at the Royal Marsden, which costs £14,200 per infusion.

“On top of that you have CT scans, consultation fees, travel, accommodation and all other costs.

“We don’t have that kind of money which is why we started the fundraising page, and the support has been amazing.

“We hope it can prolong Michael’s life by up to five years, and hopefully something else will be out there by then.

To donate towards Michael’s treatment, go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/lynaghanappeal.